Kuala lumpur: The ASEAN Joint Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) and Senior Economic Officials' Meeting (SEOM) provide an opportunity for the region to strengthen coordination between political security and economic pillars. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) deputy secretary-general (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa said the meeting with leaders takes place at a critical time amid uncertainties in the global trade landscape, which continues to test the resilience of ASEAN economies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, ASEAN is facing challenges from the ongoing geopolitical tensions to persistent supply chain disruptions. On that note, leaders are looking forward to engaging openly and constructively, with hopes that the ASEAN Geoeconomics Task Force (AGTF) insights could enhance economic stability and resilience, as stated by Mustafa in her opening remarks at the ASEAN Joint SOM-SEOM at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Mastura co-chaired the meeting with Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary-general cum ASEAN SOM Leader of Malaysia Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin. She emphasized that ASEAN has consistently shown strong unity, pragmatic cooperation, and a clear sense of purpose in preserving regional stability. The region has demonstrated resilience in safeguarding regional stability and ensuring that the interests of the people and businesses remain central to the bloc's cooperation.
The ASEAN Joint SOM-SEOM was held ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits scheduled for October 26 to 28. The summit is set to be one of the largest meetings in the bloc's history, serving as a crucial platform to foster deeper collaboration while addressing regional and global challenges in a cohesive, inclusive manner.
This is the fifth time Malaysia has assumed the ASEAN Chair since the bloc's inception in 1967, with previous chairmanships in 2015, 2005, 1997, and 1977. ASEAN's total gross domestic product (GDP) was an estimated USD 4.13 trillion in 2024, positioning it as the fourth-largest economic bloc globally after the United States, China, and Germany. ASEAN has a population of approximately 695.15 million in 2024, up from about 677.6 million in 2023, marking it as the third-most populous region in the world.